Real-time self-networking radiation detector apparatus

• US 20060033034A1
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Published: 02/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 08/16/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Original Assignee: Brookhaven Science Associates, LLC (Government of the United States of America)
• Inventors: Kaplan, Edward, Milian, Laurence W., Lemley, James, Tsang, Thomas Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,230,250 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 250/390.10
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 1/167 Measuring radioactive content of objects, e.g. contamination whole body counters G01T1/163
• CPC Class Codes: G01T 3/00 Measuring neutron radiation G01T5/00 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is for a radiation detector apparatus for detecting radiation sources present in cargo shipments. The invention includes the features of integrating a bubble detector sensitive to neutrons and a GPS system into a miniaturized package that can wirelessly signal the presence of radioactive material in shipping containers. The bubble density would be read out if such indicated a harmful source.

Claims

1. A radiation detector system comprising:

a plurality of transmitter units each adapted for separate attachment to different cargo containers and each comprising;

a neutron detector; and

a readout means;

a communications unit comprising;

a global positioning system; and

a wireless communications system; and

a receiver station having

a central processing unit in communication with and receiving information from said transmitter units, and said communications unit.

2. The radiation detector system of claim 1 further comprising a logic unit comprising:

a data storage unit;

an analog-to-digital converter;

a timing unit;

a wakeup generator;

a readout initiator; and

a communications interface.

3. The radiation detector system of claim 1 wherein the neutron detector contains freon in a polymer gel.

4. The radiation detector system of claim 3 further comprising a recompression unit whereby polymer gel is returned to initial condition.

5. The radiation detector system of claim 1 wherein readout means includes:

a light source;

at least one light detector that is configured to detect light scattered by bubbles in the polymeric gel;

and a power supply.

6. The radiation detector system of claim 5 wherein light source is a laser diode.

7. The radiation detector system of claim 5 wherein readout means includes:

a lock-in amp which provides a signal output to analogue to digital converter or directly to the data storage and communication system.

8. The logic unit of claim 2 wherein said readout indicator is in communication with said readout means via an analog connection to the communications unit.

9. The logic unit as of claim 2 wherein said readout indicator is in communication with said readout means where an electrical signal is transmitted that is proportional to the neutron flux or if the neutron flux exceeds a preset threshold.

10. The radiation detector system of claim 2 where said global positioning system is operative to generate location of transmitter units when the radiation fluence reaches a user settable alarm level, when asked by bi-directional command to report the detected radiation fluence or a periodic or predetermined times upon command from the logic unit.

11. The global positioning system of claim 1 is operative to generate location at the time of the transmission of a signal from the detector.

12. The radiation detector system of claim 2 wherein said central processing unit comprises one of a palm pilot, a laptop and a desktop computer.

13. The radiation detector system of claim 2 including a central processing unit associated with said readout means and readout indicator, said central processing unit being operative to monitor signals sent by said transmitter units, and where comparing said signals against a norm and sending signals to said status indicator indicating high level of radiation.

14. The communications unit as defined of claim 1 further comprising daisy chain capability.

15. The radiation detector system of claim 1 wherein said transmitter units are portable by land, air and sea transport.